AI health deterioration detection start-up wins £1m NHS contract

Published: 20-Feb-2017

The Small Business Research Initiative contract awarded to snap40 for 'game-changing' technologies

  • snap40 is a sensor worn on the arm
  • It uses uses a predictive analytics software platform to identify, in real-time, those who are at risk of health deterioration
  • Manufacturers have received £1m boost from the Small Business Research Initiative
  • Cash injection will help to scale up technology
  • Clinical studies will be carried out by NHS Fife and NHS Lothian

In 20 years we will all be wearing sensors that actively monitor our health and, when we need healthcare, it will come to us automatically.

snap40, the doctor on your arm, is already building this future.

Today, the company announced that it has been awarded a £1m SBRI healthcare development contract by NHS England.

The contract supports the company to further scale up its technology and provides critical validation funding for two clinical studies with NHS Fife and NHS Lothian’s Emergency Medicine Research Group Edinburgh (EMERGE) based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

snap40 uses a predictive analytics software platform to identify, in real-time, those who are at risk of health deterioration.

The company uses a single wearable device, placed on the upper arm, to continuously monitor more health indicators than any other single device on the market, transmitting this data continuously to its software platform.

snap40 uses a set of proprietary machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms that analyse the data provided by its sensors to recognise indicators of health deterioration.

The raw data collected by the sensors is converted into vital signs, which are analysed for signs of change and potential risk.

Once the level of risk has been determined, snap40 automatically determines how serious the risk is. If considered to be sufficiently high, the system will send an alert to clinical staff via their preferred communication channel.

By alerting doctors and nurses early, action can be taken sooner, potentially saving that person’s life, improving outcomes, and allowing them to return home earlier, or preventing admission to hospital entirely.

The company was founded based on its co-founder and chief executive, Christopher McCann’s experiences working in hospitals while studying medicine.

AI health deterioration detection start-up wins £1m NHS contract

He said: “In an ideal world, we’d all have our own dedicated doctor sitting with us, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But, with increasing pressure on healthcare systems and challenges in prioritising competing demands, access to doctors and nurses is at a premium.

“Our society simply cannot afford one-to-one care – and snap40 changes that.

“It allows our world-class healthcare staff to care for many more patients by helping them to prioritise who needs attention most.

“This contract from NHS England is a recognition of the value our product can bring to health services all over the world.”

With the elderly population rapidly expanding and requiring far more health and care resources, snap40 is a catalyst for change in health and care pathways to meet these resource challenges.

NHS Fife, which worked with snap40 on the company’s first clinical evaluation last year, is continuing its collaboration with the company.

Dr Amanda Wood, NHS Fife assistant research and development director said: “NHS Fife has a long history of supporting new technology that can improve patient care and help us improve delivery of services.

“We are delighted to continue collaborating with snap40. Their product has the potential to change how we deliver healthcare.”

Karen Livingstone, national director SBRI Healthcare, added: “People are increasingly taking control of their own health, using tools to inform their behaviours and decisions.”

“Artificial intelligence technology is becoming more and more powerful, and will play an increasing role in healthcare over the coming years.

“We’re excited to be working with snap40 to explore how application of the technology can monitor patients’ vital signs and help predict patient deterioration.”

snap40 has spent the last year validating its product. The company is now pursuing its mission to prevent illness and create a healthier, safer, and happier society with less strain on health services – reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and, where individuals are admitted, ensuring they can return to the familiar surroundings of their own homes as soon as possible.

David Bowie, co-founder and chief operating officer at snap40, said: “Each and every one of us has our own stories of a loved one falling ill or being in hospital, sometimes unnecessarily, or for longer than is required. snap40 will change this – making people healthier and happier.

“This contract continues the progress the company has made since it secured one of Scotland’s-largest-ever seed investment rounds last year, including expansion of its engineering and science team and significant advances towards European and USA regulatory clearance. The company expects CE marking in the next two months. ”

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